HISTORIC BREAK: Andrew Cuomo will move his State of the State speech from the Assembly chamber, where FDR and Al Smith delivered theirs.AP; Shannon DeCelle (right)

HISTORIC BREAK: Andrew Cuomo will move his State of the State speech from the Assembly chamber, where FDR and Al Smith (shaking hands) delivered theirs (AP)

(
)

ALBANY — In a provocative break with tradition, Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo is moving the annual State of the State address out of the ornate Assembly chamber to a larger convention hall.

The Democratic attorney general — who takes office as governor Saturday — argued that a convention center in the adjacent Empire State Plaza would allow more regular folks to hear the speech.

The traditional venue would crowd out the taxpaying public from the address next Wednesday in favor of Albany insiders, Cuomo told Albany radio station WGDJ 1300-AM.

“We can only fit legislators and the lobbyists — what a metaphor for the problem!” Cuomo said. “One of the most important discussions of the year, who’s excluded from the room? The people.”

Cuomo — who also revealed the change in venue in a joint press release with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) — said general-admission tickets to the so-called “Message to the People” will be doled out by lottery.

Cuomo estimated the new venue could hold 1,000 people — double the capacity of the 141-year-old Assembly chamber, with its mahogany dais and marble columns.

Despite Silver’s apparent blessing, the move will likely be seen as a slap at the Legislature, which for generations has hosted the annual policy address.

“Many people will take it that way,” said Assemblyman John McEneny (D-Albany), also a Capitol historian.

“It’s a mistake. I’m troubled with it. It’s turning its back on a rich tradition. Some very great individuals have given that speech in this chamber.”

Other lawmakers, particularly senators, who often had to battle for seats in the cramped and sweaty Assembly chamber, praised the move.

“It’s a very positive step to include more people,” said Sen. Neil Breslin (D-Albany).